Machine for making concrete products



A ril 20 1926. 1,581,814

E. J. SCHUH MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE PRODUCTS Filed Feb. 28, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet l April 20, 1926.

' E. J. SCHUH MACHINE FOR MAKING CONCRETE PRODUCTS Filed Feb. 28 1923 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 fill illillllilll rill!!!" 1 Patented Apr. 20, 1926.

ENT OFFICE.

EDWARD J'. SCHUI-I, 0F SPOKANE, WASHINGTON.

MACHINE IIIAKIN G CONCRETE FROD'U'CTS.

Application filedFebmaryQS, 1923. Serial No. 621,813.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD J. SOHUH, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Spokane, in the county ofSpo-kane and State of lVashingt-on, have invented new and useful Improvements in Machines for Making Concrete Products, of which the following is a'specification.

This invention relates to an improved mechanism for making concrete products.

My invention has to do with an improved feeder for advancing the concrete mud toward a mold in which the mud is formed in accordance with the product to be produced. My improved feeder includes a container or hopper for the mud having a discharge opening delivering to the mold, and a tamper movable through thehopper into the mold. During-the strokes of the tamper, feeding or advancing means intermittently advances the mud toward said discharge opening, said means acting not only on the active but also on the inactive strokes of the tamper.

It is a feature of myinvention to provide means for driving the tamper which means operates in a fixed path of travel, and which means is connected with the tamper in such a m'annerthat the strokes of the latter can gradually decrease as the mold is filled.

In order to insure a product of uniform density, I make the product of one dimension initially greater than it will be in final form, and shear off the surplus so'that the final product will have a smooth and unbroken top surface.

It is a further feature of my invention to reduce or provide'a tamper of a lesser cross secti on than the mold or the discharge ope-1r ing in the hopper whereby the thrust of the tamper, downwardly, will serve to spread and pack the mud laterally in the mold to the full tamping height.

An important feature consists in provid ing mud feeding means on opposite sides of the tamper whereby the mud will be uniformly and most efl'ectively advanced theretoward, means being provided in advance of the tamper for controlling the flow or passage of the mud thereto.

Another phase of my invention has to do with an improved mold structure in which the product is formed.

My invention has many other features and the parts in the tires of the drawings.

objects which will be more fully described in connection with the accompanying drawings and which will be more particularly pointed out in and by the appended claims. In the drawings V I Fig. 1, is a view in'elevation of my improved device showing the tamper in an upward position.

Fig. 2, is a similar view tamper in a lower position.

Fig. 3, is a vertical sectional View on a slightly enlarged scale with the parts-in a position similar to Fig. 1Q

Fig. is a similar sectional view with position shown in Fig. 2. 5, is a sectional view on line 5 5 of showing the .Fig. 6, is a view. illustrating the tamper operating means with thetamper a lower position.

Fig. 7, is a view similar to-Fig. 6, showing the position ofthe tamper after the mold is partly filled.

v Fig. 8, is a position showing the tamper 1 in an extreme upwardposition.

Like characters of reference designate similar parts thoughout the different fig- Referring first to Fig." 6, 1 designates a mold body of which there may be a plurality adapted to be advanced into and out of registry with a container or hopper 2. The

means and mechanism for performing this advancing operation is not herein specifically claimed and shown in detail, and as far as thisdisclosure is concerned, the same may consist broadly, of an advancing platform 3, having means as indicated at 4, to advance the platform, which may either be circular and be rotated or traverse a linear pathxof. travel. At any rate, the platform 8, and the wheel 4, may be consideredadvancing means for the mold body or bodies. I

The container'or hopper 2, is stationary and may be supported by any suitable means, (not shown) ina delivery position with respect to the moldbodies. Atamper 5, which I will now merely broadly refer. to extends upwardly from the hopper and in driven relation with means which is preferably designed to impart reciprocating movement to the tamper, and which means l is broadly indicated at6.

With this prefatory and general descrlption of the relation of the various integers of the mechanism completed, I will next specifically describe the feeding mechanism, reference being had more particularly to Figs. 1 to 5.

The hopper 2, as shown, has vertical side walls 7, and converging end walls 8, which latter are shown as being inclined downwardly from the top of said hopper toward a discharge opening 9. It will be noted that this discharge opening is embodied in a discharge extension 10, at the lower end of the hopper, this extension, as shown, having vertical interior walls 12, which are coextensive with, or in other words, register with the cavity in the mold body so as to form a vertical extension thereof when in delivery relation thereto. T hus, because of this discharge extension, the resulting product will initially have a greater height than when in its final form, the importance of this feature being more fully developed later on.

The tamper 5, reciprocates in guides 13 and 14, and it will be noted that in cross section, the tamper 5 does not fill the opening 9 or the mold body 1, there being a considerable clearance, as will be clearly seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 5. Thus, the tamper exerts its main tamping action centrally of the mold 1, the clearance space laterally of the tamper affording lateral movement of the mud so that the product will have a uniform density such that it can be safely handled after being removed from the mold and prior to setting of the concrete. This is a special feature of my invention. This lateral shifting of the mud into the side and end clearance spaces obviously amounts to a packing function, and it will now be clear that the tamper not only packs the mud subjacent to its lower end face but it also packs the mudlaterally against the vertical side walls of the mold. Hence, the packing or tamping is carried out internally of the outside faces of the product to be formed, and that is one reason why the resulting product is uniform in density. The tamper 5, is actuated by means later described, to reciprocate vertically in a gradually decreasing length of stroke dependent upon the extent of fill or pack of the mud in the mold, the lower position being shown in Fig. 4, and the upper position in Fi 3. In order to limit the movement of the mud in hopper 2, into the mold 1, I provide means which may take the form of gates 15, one on each side of the tamper. These gates are adjustable vertically in guides 16, and may be frictionally or otherwise locked in their adjusted positions. However, an important feature is that they restrict the passage of mud at a point or points in advance of the discharge opening from both sides of the tamper 5,

and thereby afford the latter free movem nt between the same. It will be seen that these gates extend upwardly in the hopper sufficiently to form partitions to 1 event the mud from engaging the tamper laterally or endwise, and frictionally resisting movement of the tamper.

It will be understood that concrete mud can not be advanced by gravity, as it is too thick to flow, and it will also be understood that the speed in making a concrete product is primarily dependent upon the rapidity with which the mud is fed. How it is a primary object of this invention to attain a high speed of manufacture and one of the inportant features consists in means for rapidly feeding the mud in the hopper toward the opening 9, which means I will next describe in detail.

Feeders are preferably provided in the form of bars 17 and 18, the former of which may be linearly movable and the latter of which are preferably floating bars. it will be seen that a set of bars is provided on each side of the tamper and in the preferred c mstruction, one set moves upwardly while the re raining set moves downwardly, and the 21k angement is such that one set of these alternately moving bars moves in synchronism with the tamper and the other set in alternation with the tamper, as will be later described. The bars 17, ha *e mud thrusting faces 19, which are inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the bars. Thus, the bars do not thrust the mud downwardly in the manner of a flat faced bar, or one having a face at right angles to the path of movement. Likewise, the upper face 20, is inclined with respect to the path of movement, thereby facilitating release-of the mud on the upward stroke. In short, the bars have a. triangular cross section with sharp upper and lower edges 21 and 22 which serve to cut through the mud on both working and return strokes. Likewis the bars 18, have mud thrusting faces 23, which are inclined with respect to the path of travel, and rear faces 24-, similarly inclined, the broad faces 25, resting on walls 8. An advantage resulting from triangular cross section of the embodied in the inclined faces so is that the feeders tend to cling toward, instead of being shifted away, from the inclined wall of the hopper. In other words, as the feeder descends. the inclined face Q3, seeks to move under the mud while advancing the same, and thus, the weight or reacting thrust of the mud holds the feeder against the hopper wall. The s re is true on the return stroke. Now because of this construction, I do not have to employ Lling means for the feeders which mean. would inevitably clog with mud. It will also be noted by reference to Figs. 3 and a, that the the feeders," as and 2f,

feeders 17, intersect the path of travel of bars, reference being had to Figs. 1 and 2,

and 6 to 8. V 7

Each feeder 17 has a pair of bars 26 rigidly attached to the ends thereof and extending upwardly between guides 27. Each feeder 18, has a pair of bars 28 rigidly attached thereto and extending outwardly along end walls 8. Rocker bars 29 are ad:

justable and pivotally connected with bars 28, at 30. The opposite ends of these rocker bars 28 are pivoted at 31, to an actuating sleeve or member 32, to be later described. Bars 26, are pivoted to rocker bars 29, at 33.

Thus, as the driving member 32, reciprocates, the rocker bars 29, impart reciprocat ing movement to the feeders, In order to impart alternating movement to said feeders, as previously described, I pivotally mount said rocker bars 29, at 34, to floating varied by changing at 30 or 34. It will nowbe clear that in "adjacent walls 8. Further,

bars 35, the latter being adjustably pivoted at 36, to the hopper. The range of movement imparted to feeders 18, may be readily the pivotal connections the absence of any guidesto' feeders 18, except the walls 8, that the latter are floating feeders, the inclined faces 23 and'24, I

alone, serving to retain said feedersclosely it will be understood that as the member 32, rises, the feeders 17 will rise and the feeders 18 will descend. Thus, a substantially continuous feeding thrust will be imparted to the'mud to advance the latter for tamping action as rapidly as required. The gates 15, may be. relied upon to control the feed, in addition to adjustment of the bars to control the stroke of the feeders.

Next referring to Figs. 6 to 8, showing the means for reciprocating the tamper, it will be seen that the member 32 is shown in the form of a sleeve, which is slidably connected with tamper 5. A stop 37, on tamper 5, is adapted to coactwith shoulders 38 of the sleeve, formed as a result of" an enlargement of thesleeves as indicated at 39. One or more contractile springs 40, have their lower ends 41, connected with said sleeve, and their upper ends 42, connected with a pin 43, carried by the tamper 5. The upper end 44, of said sleeve is suitably connected with a cross head 45, slidable in guides 46. A connecting rod 47 has its lower end pivoted at further' stroke of tamper its cross section.

48, tosaid sleeve, and its upper end con nected'at 49, to. a disccrank 50, mounted on shaft 51. This shaft 51, may be belted,

' as at 52, to be driven from any suitable source of power. v I

It will now be clear thatwhile the sleeve 32, partakes of a fixed path or extent of movement, the springs 40, will yield and permit the tamper to reduce its stroke as the mold fills. Thus, in Fig. 6, the mold 1, isjust startingto fill and the springs 40 have only yielded slightly and therefore the stop 37, is only slightly out of contact with shoulders38. In Fig. 7, wherein the mold is more nearly filled, I have shown the tamper at a higher elevation with the stop 37 in spaced relation to shoulders 38-and the springs 40 tensioned to a further extent.

' These two figures show the sleeve 32, in the full down stroke, position. In Fig. 8, I have shown the parts in a full upstroke position with shoulders 38, in engagement with stop 37. Now it will be clear that the tamper 5, ahyays moves to the same upward position with sleeve 32, but the downward 5, is shortened as the mold fills. By reason of this spring connection, I obtain, in addition to the initial impact of the tamper, a yielding and sustained pressure on the mud following such initial impact, such sustained pressure being held as the center 49 passes over the position shown in 6. It will also be noted that on each the discharge or molding extension 10. Now, by again referringto Figures 3 and 4, I will explain the importance of this molding extension.

I have indicated by dotted line 53, the height level to which the mud will be tamp'ed. This is'slightly above the top of mold 1, hence the product, is a brick, will be, in practice, one inch greater i'n this vertical dimension. When the brick hasbeen fully tamped, the tamper 5, will be arrested and the platform 3, will be advanced. to -the'extent of moving the mold 1, just filled, out of registry with extension 10. and moving the next mold 1 into registry therewith. Now in moving the filled mold 1, outwof registry with extension 10, Ishear off that portion of the tamped material in extension 10,from the remainder of the brick. thereby leaving the latter smooth and finished on top thereof, the brick also having a uniform density throughout Hence, it will now be clear that I do not 'tamp merely to a level equal to the top ofthe mold, but to a higher level so that should there be any slight lack of uniformity, it will he in the extension 10, not in the mold 1. In order to prevent wasteful dischargefrom hopper 2, as one mold is being advanced and until another mold is into registry with said hopper, I

upward stroke, the tamper is elevated above which as shown provide the molds 1, with closure plates 54, which close the extension 10, until the next mold is in place.

.Vhile this feeding mechanism is especially adapted for brick molding machines, it is not limited to this utility but is advantageous in any mud feeding capacity wherein speed is an important factor.

hilc I have shown one specific form of my invention, I do not wish to be limited thereto except for such limitations as the claims may import.

I claim 1. A device for rapidly feeding concrete mud into a mold, comprising in combination, a mold, a hopper in delivering relation to said mold, a tamper movable through said hopper into said mold to tamp the mud therein, and sets alternately movable of feeders on opposite sides of said tamper for substantially continuously advancing the mud toward the latter.

2. A device for rapidly feeding concrete mud toward a mold, comprising in combi nation, a mold, a hopper in delivering relation to said mold, a tamper movable through said hopper into said mold to tamp the mud in the latter, and sets of feeders on opposite sides of said tamper, each set comprising alternately actuated feeders substantially continuously feeding the mud.

A device for rapidly feeding concrete mnd toward a mold, comprising in combination, a mold, a hopper for the mud in delivering relation to said model, a tamper movable through said hopper into said mold to tamp the mud into the latter, and a guided and a floating feeder for advancing the mud toward said tamper.

4. A device for rapidly feeding concrete mud into a. mold, comprising in combination, a mold, a reciprocating tamper movable through a hopper into said mold, a floating and a guided feeder in said hopper, and floating means operated by said tamper for actuating said feeders.

5. A device for rapidly feeding concrete mud into a mold, comprising in combination, a mold, a hopper for the mud in delivering relation to said mold, a reciprocating tamper movable through said hopper into said mold, a feeder in said hopper movable in parallel relation to said tamper, and a feeder in said hopper movable in angular relation to said tamper.

In a device for feeding concrete mud into a mold, comprising in combination, a mold, a hopper for the mud having a dis charge opening registering with said mold, a tamper of reduced cross section with respect to said opening and movable therethrough into said mold,means for advancing the mud in said hopper toward said opening, and an adjustable gate for variously restricting the volume of mud passing toward saidopening.

7. A device for molding concrete products such as bricks, comprising in combination, a mold, a hopper for the concrete mud disposed in discharging relation to said mold, a tamper movable through said hopper into said mold, and means for actuating said tamper movable through a fixed path and permitting yielding retraction of said tamper while the latter is operating from said mold into said hopper as the mold is tamped full.

8. A device for molding concrete products such as bricks, comprising in combination, a mold, a hopper for the concrete mud disposed in discharging relation to said mold, a reciprocable tamper movable through said hopper into said mold, and reciprocating means having a fixed length of travel. and in yielding driving connection with said tamper and permitting gradual decreasing strokes of said tamper as the'mold is filled.

9. A device for molding concrete products such brick, comprising in combination, a mold, a hopper for the concrete mud disposed in delivering relation to said mold, a reciprocating tamper movable through said hopper into said mold, a reciprocating driver for said tamper, and springs connecting said driver with said tamper to impart a yielding tamping stroke to said tamper and permit. the tamper to gradually shorten its stroke as the mold is filled.

10. A device for rapidly feeding concrete mud, comprising in combination, a hopper for the mud having a discharge opening, and a movable feeder in said hopper for advancing the mud toward said opening, and said feeder having for vardly and rearwardly disposed faces at an inclination to the path of movement of said feeder.

11. A device for rapidly feeding concrete mud, con'iprising in combination, a hopper for the mud having a. lower wall and a dischargeopening toward which said wall leads, and a feeder bar movable along said wall, and said bar having a front face inclined rearwardly with respect to the direc tion of forward movement of said bar.

12. A device for rapidly feeding concrete mud, comprising in combination, a

hopper for the mud having a discharge opening and a lower wall leading toward said opening, and a feeding bar movable along said wall toward and from said opening, said bar having forward and rearward faces inclined with respect to the direction of movement of said bar.

13. A device for rapidly feeding concrete mud to a mold, comprising in combination, a mold body, a hopper for the mud having a discharge opening delivering to said mold, a tamper movable upwardly and downwardly in said mold and hopper, a feeder movable downwardly on downward movement of said tamper to advance the mud toward said opening, and a feeder movable downwardly on upward movement of said tamper to advance the mud toward said opening,

14. A device for feeding concrete or like mud, comprising in combination, a mold, a hopper for the mud and in deliveryrelation to said mold, gates dividing off said hopper and restricting flow of the mud toward said mold, a tamper between said gates for tamping the mud into said mold, and devices between said gates and the walls of the hopper for advancing themud past said gates and the like comprising, a mold, a container for the mud in delivering relation to said mold, and a tamper extending through said container into said mold and being of such reduced cross section with respect to the interior of the mold that said tamper will pack the mud laterally as well as downwardly.

I11 testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I hereby afiix my signature.

EDWARD J. SGHUH. 

